A 49-year-old man, Ernest Khoza, has been sentenced to an effective term of 25 years’ direct imprisonment by the Kimberley Sexual Offences Court following his conviction for raping a woman in the presence of her two‑year‑old child during a 2018 home invasion in Warrenton.
Conviction based on DNA and circumstantial evidence
The court found Khoza guilty on charges of rape, housebreaking with intent to rob and robbery with aggravating circumstances. The State relied on a combination of circumstantial and forensic evidence, including DNA results, to secure the conviction, the court record shows.
According to the judgment, Khoza and another man entered the house in Warrenton in 2018, armed and wearing balaclavas. They held the occupants — a 37‑year‑old woman, her husband and their two‑year‑old child — at gunpoint. The woman was raped while the child was present.
Sentencing breakdown
| Offence | Sentence imposed |
|---|---|
| Housebreaking with intent to rob and robbery with aggravating circumstances | 15 years |
| Rape | 15 years |
| Effective sentence (after concurrency under s280) | 25 years’ direct imprisonment |
The court applied section 280 of the Criminal Procedure Act to order that five years of the sentences run concurrently, producing the effective 25‑year term.
Additional court orders
In addition to imprisonment, the court ordered Khoza’s name entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders and declared him unfit to possess a firearm.
Co‑accused discharged
The second accused, identified in court papers as Thabang Molebedi, was found not guilty and discharged under section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act. The court found the evidence did not establish his involvement; neither the complainant nor her husband could identify him as one of the perpetrators.
Reaction from the prosecution
The provincial spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, Mojalefa Senokoatsane, commented on the outcome, saying the conviction and the substantial sentence should bring some measure of justice to the victim and her family.
"It trusts this conviction and substantial sentence will provide some measure of justice, closure and solace to the victim and her family, knowing that the perpetrator has been held accountable for his actions," the spokesperson said.
Why the case matters locally
Incidents of violent and sexual crime, particularly where children are present, strike at the fabric of small towns such as Warrenton. The use of forensic science — notably DNA — and careful prosecution were decisive in securing the conviction years after the attack. The case underscores the role forensic evidence can play in achieving accountability, even where trials relate to older incidents.
- For victims: convictions and long custodial sentences can provide a measure of closure and formal recognition of harm suffered.
- For communities: the ruling demonstrates that serious violent offences will be pursued by the authorities and tried in specialised courts.
- For the justice system: it highlights the reliance on forensic results and the importance of thorough investigation and prosecution practices.
The matter was heard in the Kimberley Sexual Offences Court, which deals with serious sexual offences in the Northern Cape. The presiding judge’s full remarks and sentencing judgement will form part of the court record. The second accused’s discharge means no conviction was recorded against him in relation to the Warrenton incident.
Community members, service providers and civil‑society groups continue to emphasise prevention, victim support and effective policing as complementary measures alongside criminal prosecutions to tackle gender‑based violence in the province.
Further procedural details and any appeal filings will be monitored as they become available from court registries and the NPA.
